A single mom’s house-lot woes

Sep 28, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,
I am a single mother of two who has no other recourse for the situation that I’m currently faced with other than to appeal by means of this forum. I should be the sole legal owner of a plot of land since I applied for and paid for it. But due to the ups-and-downs of life, I am not.

You see, after applying for this land in 2007 while a single woman, I got married in 2010 and because of misplaced identification, I got a new ID card. It was while checking the status of the application, a clerk at CHPA noticed the name difference, and I immediately updated all necessary documents with the married name. That marriage was a failure and after separation, in September 2012, I was awarded a plot of land for which I borrowed incrementally $300,000 from a local bank to cover the payment. The divorce process was on-going when this payment was made. However, once received and called by CHPA to complete the signing of an agreement of sale in August 2015, I went immediately to request deletion of the other party’s name. I presented all the documents requested and waited for the due process to follow. I was elated when in October 2016, after doing a routine status check, I was informed that the deletion was completed, necessary fees could be paid and I can uplift my title. However, there was a delay in the provision of same with no explanation as to why. Therefore, I subsequently met with the CEO Mr. Saul who ordered an investigation. I was informed that the title was published since February 2016 in both me and my ex-husband’s name. From then until now, I have met with the management of the Titles and Conveyance department at CHPA REPEATEDLY. All have proven futile.

I’m being advised that the title is a legal document and is therefore final. The only way to complete a removal of his name is via consent, which the other party adamantly refuses to do despite repeated pleadings. I have done some research, which reveals the law under Chapter 5:02, Sections 60 and 61 of the Land Registry Act says that a correction can be made in cases of publication error – which I can only rationalize this is. But still, no one has been able to resolve this or assist in any way.

I have all the burdens that accompany single parenthood i.e. school, transportation for the children and me – food, rent, utilities, and ad hoc expenses. Even though I receive an occasional $24,000 of child support via a standing court order, this does very little to cater for the expenses that come with raising two children. I simply cannot afford to pay half the worth of the property and neither is the other party interested and to be candid, I do not think that I should have resorted to this, since this all occurred because of negligence on the part of CHPA. In addition, the steep cost associated with hiring a lawyer is something my meagre wage simply cannot afford.
At this point, I’m without options beyond this appeal to the Hon. Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan and the Hon. Minister within the Ministry of Communities Ms. Valerie Patterson.
To readers of this piece, if you or anyone you know can aid my case, I would immensely welcome it.

Prayerfully,
A single mom

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